Caravan Dispatches - Flashback - Of Big Malls and Well Maintained Roads

Some flashback ....

Written on the 29^th November 2011

Hibberdene, South Africa. Photo Courtesy of  telegraph.co.uk 

Today it is sunny in Durban. The kind of sun that you wish you had time to go for a deep swim. We are on the road heading into town in what will be a one hour plus journey. Our hosts have  been gracious at Hibberdene, the area we have been putting up.

Today we change places and get nearer to the International Conference Centre, where the Climate Change Conference is taking place. What has not stopped amazing many of the caravanites is the road network here. The roads are so well done. 

For Kenyans especially it is a culture shock to be driven around on roads that have no potholes. The drive we have is one of the longest l know yet if it were in Kenya it would take us more than 3 hours to maneuver through traffic. The lanes here are also a shocker. They are mostly four to six lanes. No not 3 for each direction but 6 for one direction. And no, it is not just for one road like that of Thika road in Kenya. It is most roads. The minimum lane road is like the one we are on right now. It is two lane. Compared to Kenya cars here move fast. Sometimes it is all the six lanes coming at you.

Courtesy of blog.travelpod.com

I remember wanting to cross the 6 lane road yesterday from the conference centre and asking one of the policemen, ‘how do you cross these lanes?’ He simply answered, ‘ Wait until the robot stops them.’ The traffic light that is.Seriously, well done and maintained.  The country side is beautiful and clean. You should be here to see it.

Then we noticed something yesterday. The traffic police are mostly women, beautiful women in pretty uniforms and white hand gloves. Oh my recipe for accidents in Kenya. No seriously. These women are pretty. Just noticed them especially yesterday when we were leaving the conference centre. Oh and they stop the cars and the motorists stop. 

Can that happen in Kenya seriously? Yesterday we went out to print some documentation we needed at a mall that is near the centre. It was fully packed. I wondered aloud, ‘Don’t people have anywhere to go other than sit around and have coffee?’ To which the local who was taking around said, ‘well this is a popular bus stage hence the big number of people.

This place is big on malls.Oh they are big and splashy. While in Kenya we have just a few and others coming up, South Africa is way ahead. Indeed a culture shock for me. Note to self-Kenya needs to attract more investors.

By Maria Wanza

Somewhere in Tanzania at a Roadside Cyber Cafe

The bus is hooting.We are in Tanzania just having eaten good fish and ugali for lunch.I have to run.I have so many updates to do but internet has been bad. So l  will keep writing.Expect to do a lot of reading....cheers and thanks for the support

Caravan Brief - 71 Candles Lit In Honor of Prof Wangari Maathai

Prof Wangari Maathai. Photo courtesy of Wedo.org

A friend of mine said the other day of the Prof Wangari Maathai night that was planned for Kwa Zulu Natal, ‘Wangari Maathai belonged to all of us. This is because to all of us she meant something different to all of us.’

Last night over 500 people gathering from different nationalities gathered to commemorate the life and times of Prof Wangari Maathai. As 71 candles were lit several people gave testimonies of who Prof Maathai was to them. 

Professor Karanja, CEO of the Green Belt Movement was the master of ceremony. During a light moment he said that Prof Maathai was most beautiful at her angriest especially because how she went all out to make sure that things worked. 

High Profile Actress Visits With The Caravanites

When it was announced that an actress from China was going to be part of those people who would visit and have a chat with caravanites, we didn’t know what to make of it. We had not heard her name before. So we waited. I waited. Eagerly. Seeing that l have done some acting back in Kenya. I wanted to meet her. And so she visited with us. Hai Qing is an Oxfam ambassador and travels the world creating awareness on various development issues.

That afternoon, outside the Howard dome at the University of Kwa Zulu Natal, we shared our experiences from across Africa. Hai heard about women in Zambia through Milus a woman farmer who was part of the caravan. She told of how the rural woman suffers because of lack of access of modern facilities. She urged Hai, ‘to send the message to the right people in China that they needed to cut emissions.’ A woman from Lesotho who l will call Mama Anna had a request. She requested Hai to let the leaders at the COP 17 know, ‘that the group knew they were talking on their behalf but could they ask us directly what we think since we can talk for ourselves.’

Caravan Dispatches - Farmers Wow At COP17

I have been debating for the last few hours or so whether to sit down and write this entry in the midst of drowsiness and fatigue. Don't forget sleepiness. Hmm! that is an English word seeing it didn't go underlined red at the bottom:-) Anyways,l have to tell you this even though it is a few minutes to middnight here in University of Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa.

Caravan Brief - I Am Not Here For Sympathy But For Justice, Former Ireland President

Her Excellency Mary Robinson

Her Excellency Mary Robinson, former Ireland president met with Trans African Caravan of Hope caravanites yesterday at University of Kwa Zulu Natal. Her Excellency was there as she put it, ' to listen to the caravanites and help them articulate their voices on the floor of negotiations.'

AFRICAN FARMERS PARLIAMENT AT COP17

PRESS RELEASE

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, PACJA, will host an African Farmers Kamukunji where farmers from more than 10 countries will be discussing the impacts that climate change has on their livelihoods, and their hopes for the future as African farmers need to adapt to the catastrophic effect that climate change will for future generations.

The kamukunji will be divided into two sections. First farmers will share experiences and reflect on the topics that are being discussed at the UNFCCC. Farmers will review a new publication by PACJA with Oxfam Interational and Kulima Overcoming the Barriers How to ensure future food production under climate change in southern Africa. Farmers who have read the report state that it has important recommendations for the entire continent for African leaders to build on in their country adaptation plans. The report presents interviews with over 200 farmers in five countries (Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe) and their knowledge about the climate change they are experiencing which is largely backed up by scientific data. 

The kamukunji will be made up of 60 farmers from across Africa. Many are travellers on the Trans African Caravan of Hope, organized by PACJA, a historic campaign trail from Bujumbura, Burundi to Durban, South Africa passing through Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

The meeting will be attended by other Caravanites, farmers, civil society, policy makers and leaders from around the world.  

The Trans African Caravan of Hope is an awareness road trip that went through 10 countries covering over 7000 kilometres to get to Durban, South Africa for UNFCCC COP17 meeting. This Caravan started from Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and into South Africa. Other countries that have joined the caravan include Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland and Nigeria.  

Media will also get interview opportunities with farmers who will participate in this event.

Date – 1^st December 2011   Venue – University of Kwa Zulu Natal   Time – 5pm – 7pm

For more information please contact

Maria Wanza @ +277 3910 9263 / Or Katy Mcdermott @ 0027796965332